Locking device for adjustable chairs.



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LBJKENG DEVICE F83 AWUSTIWLE EHAIRS.

A iumim flied July 3,1900.

(No Model.)

enables the relatively movable parts to be ad amp STATES FRETERIOK ROBBIN, JR.,

or MEDINA, NEW YORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

663,582, dated December 11, 1900.

Application and July 3,1900. an 1n. 22,433, on man.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, FREDERICK ROBBIN, J r., of Medina, in the county of Orleans and State of New York, have invented c'ertai-n new and useful Improvements in Locking Devices for Adjustable Chairs, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accoinpanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, andto the referencenumerals marked thereon.

My present invention relates to devices for holding in adjusted positions the movable backs or headsections of reclining-chairs, couches, invalid-hedsteads, or other articles of furniture, and has for its object to provide a device which is simple in construction and justed expeditiously and which is capable of being readily applied to the present form of reclining-chairs or invalidbedsteads.

To these ends the invention consists in certain improvements hereinafter fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of thisispecification.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a portion of an adj nstable reclining-chair, showing the application of my invention thereto; Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view on the line at a; of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the adjustable chair-back with the locking device applied thereto.

Similar reference-numerals in the several figures indicatesimilar part-s.

i The looking or adjusting device forming the subject-matter of my present invention consists'generally of two parts or members, onein the form of anotched'or serrated plate (indicated by 1) adapted to 'be applied to one of two relativelyrmovable parts or members of furniture, such as .a chair-frame, and the other member of the adjusting device consisting of a pawl (indicated by 2) pivoted to the other relatively movable part of a piece of furniture, such as the movable back of a chair, and having a locking shoulder or portion 3,'ad'apted to codperate; withthe serra tions of the plate and to beoolnerautomatically engaged therewith and hold them'ovable portion of the chair or other part 'whenin the desired adjusted position. v

In the present embodiment I have shown the device applied to the well-known Morris chair, 4 indicating the seat portion and 5 the upwardly-extending support for the arinfi. 7 indicates the back of the chair, pivoted at 8 to the lower portion of the seat and adapted to swing back. and forth upon the pivot to adjust said back relatively to the seat. Se cured to a rearward extension of the support dand also preferably to the under sideof the arm 6 is the plate or member 1, consisting of a plate preferably provided with the flanges 9, extending beneath the arm and having upon its lower edge teeth or serrations 10, preferably arranged in the arc of a circle of which the pivot 8 is the approximate center.

These teeth 10 are preferably soinewhaigabrupt at their front sides and the lower sides are more inclined relatively to the pivotal center of the hinge 8, as shown, and at the end of the serrations said plate is provided with enlarged recesses Ll, beyondiwhich are arranged shoulders or stops 12. 4 v

' The pawls 2 are, as stated, provided with the'engaging shoulders 3 and are the sidesof the chair-back or adjustable por tions '7' at such a distance from the lower edge" of the platel that the said chair-back may "be swung forward on its pivots freely, the

pivots of the pawls being then in front of the pivoted to engaging'ends; botany attempt to. reverse the motion while the pawls 2 are in the position shown in Fig.1 of the drawings will cause the pawl to engage the abrupt shoulders of the teeth 10 andhold the chair-back in' adjusted position. When, however, the said back is moved forward, so that the engagingends or shoulders 3npon the pawls may enter the forward recesses 11 in the plates 1, said pawls or stops may turn to the vertical position shown in dotted lines in said figure, and then when the chairback is swung backwardly again on its pivots the pawls 2 will tilt in the opposite irection and move freely over the ratchet-teeth 10 until the shoulders 3 pass into the rear recesses 11 and the chairback' is arrested by the steps 12. Then by swinging the chair-back forward again the V pawls 2 will slide over the lower surfaces of the teeth 10 until the desired position of adjustment is reached, when rearward motion, as by the weight of the occupant against the chair-back, will be prevented tomatically held against the teeth or serrations.

The operationof the device will be understood from the above description-that is,-the forward movement of the back may be permitted at any time, but the rearward motion is prevented until. the back has been swung to the extreme forward position, as in dotted lines in Fig. 1, then moved back to the extreme rear, and then forward again to effect the desired adjustment of the parts.

The device as a whole is very simple-and may be readily applied to chairs now in use,

and, furthermore, substaniially the same construction may be applied to the movable hinged head sections or portions of sofas, lounges, couches, or invalid-bedsteads.

I have in the present instance shown two of the locking devices and prefer this arrangement; but under some circumstances only one may be used.

Instead of operating the pawl by gravity it will be understood that a spring-operated pawl could be used; and such an arrangement performing the functions of the weighted pawl would be the equivalent of the latter, broadly considered.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination with two relatively movable parts or members, of a locking-plate on one of the members having the serrations or teeth, and a reversible automatically-engaging pawl pivoted on the other member and having the end adapted to engage the toothed portion of the plate and movable beyond the saidtoothed'portion, whereby the members may be moved freely, relatively, -With the pivot of the pawl in front of the engaging end thereof, and their movement in the opposite direction will be prevented.

2. In furniture, the combination with a support, and a movable section pivoted thereon, of an adjustable locking device between the support and section consisting of a plate mounted upon oneof them having tlte teeth or serrations, and a reversible pawl pivoted upon the other, having an end automatically engaging with the teeth or serrations on the plate and movable across and beyond the teeth when the adjustable section is moved in'opp'osite directions. 1

3. Infurnitn re, the combination withasupport and a movable section, pivoted thereon, of an adjustable'locking device between the support and sectiomembodying aplate mounted upon; one of them having the teeth or serrations, and a weighted reversible pawl pivoted uponthe other, having one end held in engagement with the teeth and movable over and. beyond theteeth on the plate, when the adjustable section is moved in opposite directions on the pivot.

4. In furniture, the combination with a support, and a movable section pivoted thereto, of an adjustable locking device between the supportaud section consisting of the plate on one of the pa'rts,having the serrations or teeth, the recesses at the end thereof, and the stops beyond them, and the weighted reversible locking-pawl pivoted on the other part and adapted to cooperate with the teeth'and to engage the stops on the plate.

5. In achair,the combination with the frame or support, and an adjustable back-section pivoted thereon, of an adjustable locking device for the section consisting of the plate on the support having the serrations or teeth arranged in the arc of a circle, the recesses at the ends, and the stops beyond the recesses,

v FREDERICK ROBBIN, JR.

Vitnesses:

F. F. CHURCH, G. WILLARD RICH. 

